On the eve of the Iowa GOP Fox News debate, Donald Trump explained to Bill O’Reilly why he isn’t coming.

TRUMP: I was not treated well by Fox. They came out with this ridiculous PR statement – it was like drawn up by a child – and it was a taunt. And I said, “How much of this do you take?” I have zero respect for Megyn Kelly. I don’t think she’s very good at what she does. I think she’s highly overrated. And frankly, she’s a moderator. I thought her question last time was ridiculous and everybody said I won the debate. In fact everybody said, well, everybody said I won all six debates – especially the last one. We’ve had six debates so far. Every online poll said I won every one of the debates – especially the last one by the way, with the “New York Values”- which was horrible what Ted Cruz said. But you know what? The Democrats are all finished with their debates. They’ve had six. They were hidden behind football games and every other thing. They’re all finished with their debates. We’re going to go on forever with these debates. At some point, you got to start doing other things other than debating.

During the exchange, O’Reilly argued Trump was wrong to avoid the debate for his Veterans benefit. Charles Krauthammer also thought so.

KRAUTHAMMER: He’s gotten what he wanted to get, which is blanket wall-to-wall coverage of him, wiping out everything else going up to the debate. That, I think, was well played. But I think he loses if he actually doesn’t show up. But I think snubbing Iowa, where they take their politics really personally, and also, not having a good reason. If you just saw that on that clip you just showed. I mean, is it an argument to say we’ve had too many debates? That’s not a reason for standing up America, Iowa and the other candidates when you already have accepted and were listed on the list. So I think, if he – this is a competition between his narcissism and his canniness. And I think I would guess that his narcissism – meaning staying out – is going to win over.

How do you feel about Trump’s absence from the debate? Does it help or hurt him? Where was Fox’s integrity in taunting Trump? Share and comment below.